Folding table



N. BELDEN FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 21. 922

Aug. 18, I925.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I II ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1925.

1,549,957 N. BELDEN FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 21. 1922 2 Sheets-Shut 2 INVENTOR JYHD/IYE 5540f Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

UNITED STATES NADINE BELDEN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed October 21, 1922. Serial No. 595,984.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NADINE BELDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved folding table.

The object of my invention is to provide a table which may be readily set up within an automobile.

Due to the many fixtures within an automobile, such as seats, shift levers, and so forth, it is very difficult to set up a table. With" this object in view, I have invented a table which may be quickly and easily set up within an automobile and which avoids all of the fixtures.

In the drawing in which my invention is illustrated, I have shown one form of my invention as applied to a coupe, but it may be embodied in other forms, and in this specification and claims I desire to cover my invention in whatever form it may be embodied. The specific table illustrated is designed to fit between the front seats of a coupe or sedan and extend rearwardly in front of the passengers in the back seat. A feature of my invention is the provision of a central longitudinal leaf or board, a side leaf hinged thereto extending backward from the front, a side leaf on the other side spaced from both the front and the back, a set of extension leaves at the rear end of the center board on one side having a couple of double folding leaves and a spacer strip whereby the extension set may be folded doubled up on top of the center board, a folding leg and swiveling brace bar under the extension leaves and in some cases a small leaf at the rear end opposite the extension leaves cut away at a forward corner. If necessary the central leaf or board may be cut away to fit around the steering wheel.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view'of my table in the unfolded position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the rear table leaf.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an end view of the table.

by a strap Figure 6 is a bottom view of a modified form of table.

Figure 7 is a side view of the table in the folded position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing: A central leaf 1 has a suitable notch formed therein as at 2, for the reception of the steering wheel. Adjoining the notch 2 and rearwardly thereof, is a foldable leaf 3 which. is hinged to the main leaf 1 by hinges 4. A small leaf 5 is positioned rearwardly of the leaf 3 and spaced therefrom and is of a suitable shape to escape the drivers seat, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. This leaf is for the use of the passenger in the rear seat. The leaf 5 is hinged to the leaf 1 by hinges 6. A leaf 7 is hinged to the leaf 1 at the forward end thereof by hinges 8. At the rear of the leaf 1 is positioned a double folding extension 9. The leaves 7 and extension 9 are spaced apart to allow for the front seat, as shown in Fig. 1. The extension 9 comprises two leaves 10 and 11 which are hinged together by hinges 12. The leaf 10 is hinged to a spacer 13 by hinges 14, the spacer 13 being hinged to the leaf 1 by hinges 15. A bar 16 is pivoted to the lower side of the leaf 10 and has hooks 17 and 18 set in the end thereof, which hooks are adapted to engage eyes 19 and 20 in the leaves 10 and 11 respectively. A leg 21 is hinged to the bottom of the leaf 11 to support the extension 9. The leg is also hinged at its center to permit it to be folded upon the leaf. A stiffening bar 22 extends across the center hinge and engages a pin 23 in the lower half.

A pair of legs 24 are hinged to the leaf 1 at the forward end thereof, and are joined Braces 26 are hinged to the leaf 1 and engage buttons 27 on the legs 24. The buttons are pivoted to the legs and may be turned out of engagement with the braces to remove same from the legs. A pair of legs 28 are hinged at the rear of the leaf 1 and are joined by a strap 29. A pair of braces 30 are hinged to the leaf 1 to engage the legs 28 and are held in place by buttons 31.

When in a folded position a strap 32 surrounds the legs to hold same in place and a second strap 33 holds the extension 9 in position.

In the modified form the leaf 1 has two leaves 35 and 36 hinged thereto, and a pair of braces 37 and 38 are hinged to the leaf 1 and extend under the leaves 35 and 36 respectively.

In unfolding the table, it is first placed in the proper transverse position with the notch 2 in position. The strap 32 is unfastened and the legs 5% and 28 drop down. The braces 26 and 30 are now set in place. Finally the extension 9 is released from the strap 33 and its leg 20 put in position.

It will be noted that the hinges f and 8 for the leaves 3 and 7 may be of such type as to allow one leaf to fold fiat on top of the central board 1 and the other to fold over the top of the under leaf. The jointed leg 21 will fold neatly under the leaf 11, the bar 16 will also swivel crosswise and the extension set of leaves 13, 10 and 11 double over on top of the segmental leaf 5 when the latter is hinged over the center board.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A folding automobile table comprising in combination a center board adapted to extend from front towards the rear of an automobile between the two front seats, a pair of legs hinged at the front end thereof, a pair of rear legs hinge-d at a distance forward of the rear end of said board to allow a persons knees to extend under the board from the rear seat said legs being foldable towards each other, a leaf hinged to the center board to fold thereover at the front end, a leaf hinged at the opposite side of the center leaf to fold thereover spaced from bot-h ends of the center board, and an extension set of leaves at the rear end of the centhereto, an outer leaf hinged to the inner leaf, and a folding leg attached to the said outer leaf, said extension set of leaves doubling over the center board.

A folding automobile table comprising in combination a center board adapted to extend from the front towards the rear of an automobile between the two front seats, a pair of legs hinged to the forward end of the center board, a pair of rearlegs hinged at a distance from the rear end of the board to allow a persons knees to extend under the board from the rear seat said legs being foldabletowards each other, a leaf hinged to the center board to fold tliereover at the front end on one side thereof a leaf hinged at the opposite side of the center leaf to fold thereover spaced from both ends of the center board, an extension set of leaves at the, rear end of the center board at one side thereof comprising a spacer strip hinged thereto, an inner leaf hinged directly there to, an outer leaf hinged to the inner leaf said hinges folding in the same direction whereby the outer leaf folds over the inner leaf and both on top of the center board, a folding leg attached to the said outer lea-f, a brace bar attached underneath the extension set of leaves, and a small leaf hinged on the center board adjacent its rear end and opposite the said set of extension leaves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NADINE BELDEN. 

